Your Free Guide to B&H Photo Video

Understanding B&H Photo Video's History and Business Model

B&H Photo Video has operated as a family-owned business since 1973, when it was founded in New York City. The company started as a small camera shop and has grown into one of the largest photography and electronics retailers in the United States. Unlike many competitors, B&H remains independently owned rather than part of a larger corporate chain, which shapes how the business operates and serves customers.

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The company's name reflects its founders' initials—Blatt and Harman. What began as a single location serving local photography enthusiasts has expanded to include a major retail location, a massive distribution center, and an extensive online presence. Today, B&H operates from a 104,000-square-foot superstore in Manhattan and serves customers across all 50 states and internationally.

B&H Photo Video's business model centers on offering a wide selection of merchandise in photography, video, audio, computers, and related technology fields. The company generates revenue through product sales rather than memberships, subscriptions, or service fees. This means there are no hidden costs or enrollment requirements to shop there. Customers pay only for items they purchase.

The retailer has built its reputation on several operational principles. The company maintains a large inventory of products, often stocking items that smaller retailers cannot. They employ trained staff who have expertise in the categories they work with, allowing customers to ask questions before making purchases. B&H also offers competitive pricing, which they attempt to match against other major retailers.

Understanding B&H's structure helps explain why their information resources exist. As a major retailer, B&H has an interest in helping customers make informed purchasing decisions. Educational content serves both the customer's interests and the business's interests—customers who understand technology tend to make better purchasing choices and have fewer returns.

Practical Takeaway: B&H Photo Video operates as an independent, family-owned retail business that profits from selling products. When you consult their educational resources, you're accessing information created by a company with retail interests, which is useful context for understanding the perspective behind their guides and educational content.

What Free Information Resources B&H Offers to Customers

B&H Photo Video provides several categories of free informational content to visitors of their website and physical store. These resources are designed to help people understand technology categories, learn how equipment works, and make purchasing decisions. The materials exist as free educational tools rather than behind paywalls or membership requirements.

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On their website, B&H maintains an extensive "Learning Center" section that contains articles, videos, and guides covering photography, videography, audio, and computing topics. These resources range from beginner-level introductions to more technical discussions. For example, they offer guides about camera types (DSLR vs. mirrorless), lens selection, lighting techniques, and video editing software. The content is organized by category, making it relatively straightforward to find information about specific topics.

The company produces video content that demonstrates equipment in use. These videos show cameras, lenses, lighting gear, and audio equipment being used in real-world scenarios. Watching equipment in action can provide practical understanding that still photographs or written descriptions alone cannot convey. The videos are available on their website and through their YouTube channel, accessible to anyone without requiring an account or purchase history.

B&H also maintains comparison guides that outline differences between products. These guides present specifications and features side-by-side, helping consumers understand how similar products differ from one another. For instance, they offer comparisons between different smartphone models, laptop brands, or camera systems. While these comparisons exist in a retail context, they present factual information about specifications rather than making absolute recommendations.

In-store, B&H customers can speak with sales staff who are trained to discuss product categories. The staff cannot provide personalized purchasing recommendations—company policy restricts sales staff from making individual-specific advice—but they can explain how different products work and describe their features and specifications. This allows customers to learn directly from people experienced with the equipment categories.

B&H also publishes educational email newsletters that customers can receive. These optional communications discuss photography and video topics, announce new educational content, and highlight product releases. Subscribing to these newsletters is voluntary and does not require any payment or purchase commitment.

Practical Takeaway: B&H provides free educational content through their website's Learning Center, videos, comparison guides, staff conversations, and email newsletters. You can access most of this information without registering an account or making any purchases, though you will see products for sale throughout their website and store.

How to Navigate B&H's Website and Find Educational Content

B&H Photo Video's website can feel overwhelming at first due to the massive inventory and numerous available categories. Understanding the site structure helps you locate educational resources without getting lost in product listings. The website is organized in ways that separate shopping from learning, though the boundaries sometimes overlap.

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The main navigation menu at the top of B&H's homepage contains links to major product categories: Cameras, Video, Audio, Computers, and others. However, the Learning Center occupies a separate space in the navigation. Look for a link labeled "Learning Center" or "Education" in the main menu or footer. This dedicated section collects articles, videos, and guides in one place rather than scattered throughout product pages.

Within the Learning Center, content is usually organized by topic area. For photography, you might find sections covering camera basics, lens selection, lighting, composition, and editing. For video, sections typically cover camera selection, audio recording, lighting, and editing software. Audio sections address microphone types, mixing, and sound recording techniques. Rather than searching randomly, browsing these topic areas helps you find relevant content.

The site's search function provides another pathway to educational content. If you search for a general topic—for instance, "how to choose a camera"—the results page will show a mix of product listings and educational articles. Educational results often appear near the top of search results, making this an effective method when you have a specific question in mind.

B&H's YouTube channel contains much of their video content and may be easier to browse than the website for visual learners. Videos are organized into playlists by topic, allowing you to watch multiple related videos in sequence. YouTube's algorithm will also suggest similar videos, potentially leading you to content you didn't initially search for but might find useful.

Product pages themselves contain educational elements. When viewing a specific camera, lens, or other item, the product page includes a detailed specifications section, customer reviews, and often links to related articles or videos. These materials help you understand what the product is and how it compares to alternatives without immediately pressuring you toward a purchase.

B&H occasionally hosts webinars or live events where experts discuss specific topics. These events are often available to watch as recordings after the live broadcast ends. Announcements for upcoming events typically appear in their newsletter and on the website homepage.

Practical Takeaway: To find B&H's free educational content, start by locating their Learning Center rather than browsing product categories. Use the search function when you have specific questions, check their YouTube channel for video content, and don't overlook the educational materials linked within product pages themselves.

Specific Types of Guides and Information Available

B&H's educational content covers several distinct categories of information that serve different learning needs. Understanding what types of guides exist helps you know where to look based on what you want to learn.

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Beginner guides introduce people to topic areas with little to no background knowledge. These guides explain fundamental concepts, terminology, and basic principles. For example, a beginner photography guide might explain the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO—three fundamental camera settings. These guides intentionally avoid highly technical jargon and focus on clear explanations that someone new to a subject can understand.

Equipment comparison guides present multiple products side-by-side. Rather than recommending one product as superior, comparison guides list specifications, features, and price points. You might find a guide comparing full-frame and crop-sensor cameras, or comparing mirrorless cameras from different manufacturers. These guides help you understand differences without someone else making the decision for you.

How-to guides provide step-by-step instructions for specific tasks. A photography how-to might explain the process of shooting in manual mode, while a video guide might cover how to properly set up lighting for an interview. These guides bridge the gap between understanding concepts and applying them in practice.

Technical specifications guides provide detailed information about product capabilities and limitations. These guides explain what different technical terms mean in practical terms. For instance, a guide about